Homeless charity turns to landlording to fix ‘catastrophic’ housing crisis
Homelessness charity Crisis has announced it is preparing to become a landlord for the first time in its 60-year history, in a move that will be closely watched by the property industry.
As The Negotiator has regularly reported, the charity has been one of the rental sector’s most outspoken critics, frequently blaming private landlords for rising homelessness and calling for rent controls and tougher regulation of the market.
If nobody else is going to provide housing, we’ll do it ourselves.”
Now, amid what it describes as a “catastrophic scenario”, Crisis says it must act itself. According to Chief Executive Matt Downie (pictured), the organisation will begin buying and managing its own housing stock after years of relying on others. He says: “If nobody else is going to provide housing, we’ll do it ourselves.”.
The charity plans to deliver at least 1,000 homes in London and Newcastle during the first phase, supported by tenancy-management teams for residents with complex needs. It already runs a lettings arm to help clients access private accommodation, but this will be its first direct venture into ownership and management.
Wheels have come off
Downie says the move was necessary because “the wheels have come off” the homelessness and housing system, with housing supply shrinking and rents rising faster than benefits.
He told The Guardian that the UK’s housing system had reached breaking point and called on the Government to deliver its delayed homelessness strategy and raise housing benefit to reflect current market rents.
Many in the rental sector will want to see how Crisis will cope with the very same financial, legal and maintenance challenges that landlords face on a daily basis.
The post Homeless charity turns to landlording to fix ‘catastrophic’ housing crisis appeared first on The Negotiator.
Author: Gemma
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